Full Throttle for Pounds 10m Sports Village ; Council Set to Give Complex the Green Light Basketball and Rugby League to Also Feature

Article excerpt

PLANS for a Pounds 10m worldclass sports complex in east
Manchester were set to be rubber-stamped today.

Belle Vue Sports Village will include a brand new 6,000-seater
speedway stadium and elite basketball centre.

It is hoped the hub - part of the council's sporting vision for
the area around Eastlands - will become a national home for both
sports.

The centre, to be built on existing council land on Pink Bank
Lane and Kirkmanshulme Lane, will also feature a grass Rugby League
pitch, while existing council leisure facilities will get a
facelift. The masterplan was due to go before council bosses this
morning.

It will see historic speedway club Belle Vue Aces move from their
existing home next door, where they currently share a track with
greyhound and stock car racing.

Due to the packed schedule at their current stadium, the club is
only able to race on a Monday - but it is hoped the new centre will
allow it to compete more regularly and profitably before
international crowds. …